According to authorities, the Auburn man was standing in the roadway when he was struck by a semi-truck. The big rig driver tried to swerve to avoid the pedestrian in the roadway but was unsuccessful
Kent, WA – A 31-year-old Auburn man was hit and killed by a big rig in the early morning hours of Saturday in Kent, according to the Kent Police Department.
The incident was reported shortly before 5 a.m. December 27, in the 11400 block of Southeast 208th Street.
According to authorities, the Auburn man was standing in the roadway when he was struck by a semi-truck. The big rig driver tried to swerve to avoid the pedestrian in the roadway but was unsuccessful.
Another driver operating a Mazda spotted a pedestrian lying in the roadway and also swerved. The Mazda was able to avoid the pedestrian but crashed into the semi-truck.
The Kent Police Department and Puget Sound Fire responded to the scene of the accident. The pedestrian was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared deceased. His name was not immediately released.
The drivers of the semi-truck and the Mazda remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigators. Authorities said impaired driving was not suspected to have played a role in the incident.
The Kent Police Department is investigating the accident.
Fatalities due to traffic colisions in King County avaraged 140 in the years between 2021 and 2023. The numbers have been constantly increasing yearly until the peak in 2023, when the county recorded 150. Most fatal accidents occurred on state routes, especially State Route 522 and I-5, which are regarded as the deadliest in King County. This has majorly been attributed to numerous curved sections and high traffic volume that cause drivers to drift into oncoming lanes. According to the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) data, state routes contributed to 28% of the fatalities recorded statewide in 2023. Other driver errors including speed, distracted driving, and drinking under the influence also continue to play a key role in these accidents, stressing the need for more sensitization to ensure drivers adhere to the set laws and keep road users safe.
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